Fishy Faith

My second entry in the chevron competition at CAS (CASology Week 205: chevron) feautured the other Rubber King fish I mentioned in my last blog. He too is from the Rubber King Pond Friends stamp and die sets, colored with their special markers. See how differently he turned out? Even a crafty but non-artistic person like me, with clearly defined favorite color combos, can look like a pro and make unique designs! This ocean was even more whimsical, using a My Favorite Things Polka Dot coverup die to create a bubbly haven for my little fishy.

The outer sentiment was die cut from a Paper smooches die in the religious words set. I then embossed it extra thick and mounted it on some delicate chevron paper from my Garden Party paper pad. I cut it out using Our Daily Bread Designs double stitched rectangles. Inside the card, I went with an ODBD Deep Waters stamp to complete my fishy's message. Enjoy!

Oceanic Joy

Chevron is my favorite go to pattern, so when I saw a competition based around it (CASology Week 205: chevron), I couldn't resist. I decided to use its "wave"-like properties by sponging a Memory Box stencil in Broken China. The panel was cut with MFT Blueprints-13 stitched die. I was also dying to break out my new Rubber King Pond Friends stamp and die sets, colored with their special markers, to make the cool little fish. It was a system I had coveted over a year ago at an expo, but didn't want to invest in starting from scratch, but this year, I gave in! What fun it is to blend colors like a pro, and make many different fish in just a few minutes -- truly CAS. (You'll see another one in my next installment. Now I just wish I had bought that seahorse too! ;-)) Finally, the sentiment is one of the Joy! Crafts seashore stamps.

Dimensional Thanks

Do y'all have one of those mother-in-laws? I do. The best kind ever. She loves her son. She loves me. But most of all she loves her grandkids. Her favorite gifts to give are time and love. How lucky are we?! So to thank the grandparents for coming for TWO WEEKS so we could go on the trip of a lifetime, I knew I needed to make something special. Those of you who know me know I usually stop at about 2 layers, rarely use pink, and recoil from frilly florals. Here I did all of the above and maxed out at 7 layers! Like I said...special. ;-) All the same, it is still and CAS card, true to myself.

Some tools used:
       ODBD stitched rectangles
       ODBD sending set
       ODBD fancy squares
       Mft blueprints 13

Over and above the layering, I popped up the diamond orientation portion with foam tape and added more height & pop with Dew Drops (poinsettia set and watery set).

I'm competing in: ODBDSLC275 Pop It Up or Add Dimension.

Seeing in the Dark

It's been a LONG while, I know. I was kind of overtaken by life with 3 little ones, but I am back in the creative mood again after a fun night of designing with a good friend recently. Time for Mommy's is where you MAKE it!

For this CAS design, I reversed the white and dark spaces to go with the beautiful sentiment by ODBD. The background is a simple mix of sponged Tim Holtz distress inks, cut out with the stitched MFT Blueprints-13 rectangle. The owl is a cute little graduation set (re-purposed here) from Impression Obsession. Add a branch and you have a punny but meaningful card to encourage a friend.

Challenge I'm playing in: CASology #200: CAS + Blog Candy!

Thanks (But)Tons

I started with Your Next Stamp winter greetings set, for both the image and sentiment, stamped in Versafine Majestic blue. It seemed appropriate as we have 30" and counting of snow today, in a SOUTHERN state! I cut the image out with an Our Daily Bread Design double stitched rectangle, and made a larger frame from another. I cut the sentiment out with DieNamics Fishtail Flags. I edged all the die cuts with Jim Holtz faded jeans, and sponged the frame with a combo of Holtz distress inks (salty ocean, faded jeans, dusty Concord). The photo doesn't show it, but the banner is popped up over the frame on my grey panel. Finally, I added button "snowflakes" for bling.

Competing in the CCNS #120 -- Buttons this week.
Epilogue: I got a top 3 mention for this one!

Blessed Creation

I was having fun with my Ken Oliver Colorburst lemon yellow, Alizarin Crimson and orange, testing the puffing method. I started with watercolor paper, wet it, then puffed, I like how it made both swirls and spots - kind of like a blustery fall day. I respritzed a couple of places to get more blending, but it was a pretty quick card, other than drying time.

The tree itself is that fun "naked" stamp from Judith, that you can dress any way you like. Looking at it again today, I am feeling a Charlie Brown Christmas version in its future! I stamped it in Tim Holtz vintage ink, allowing a bit of brown into my fall mix.  The sentiment from Hero Arts Animal Blessings stamp set was put onto a piece of "kraft" paper from a recycled shopping bag
 -- enviro-crafty Mom at work! I love it when things can serve multiple purposes and not get wasted, and can keep the earth cleaner too.

I'm participating in the Classy Cards 'n Such Challenge #111 "Thankful"

Richly Blessed

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and while it's not my favorite holiday -- it allows for some of my favorite cards. I love the idea of being grateful. I personally keep a gratefulness journal to cheer me in sad times, and to even prevent them by forcing me to focus on the positive. Do you? Trust me, it's a great exercise.

At any rate, this card actually started at a MOPs crafting event where I found and cut to size this gorgeous orange paper. It isn't a color I use often - more a beach kind of girl - but I thought it was so pretty. Now I have found its use! I layered it behind a geometric die from Ellentina to create a simple yet elegant background. I stamped my Reverse Confetti Pumpkin Patch with Stampin' Up chocolate chip ink & used the matching dies to cut out the parts. I popped this up on a panel to bring in my last fall color, and tied it all together with green Queen& Co. dotties. 


This is part of the Classy Cards 'n Such Challenge #111 "Thankful"